Raschel machine with sinkers



Aug. 12, 1969 K. KOHL I 3,460,357

RASCHEL MACHINE WITH SINKERS Filed June 9, 1967 -INVENTOR= KARL KOHL BY Km m United States Patent US. Cl. 66-86 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A Raschel warp knitting machine with knitting needles movable in a closed path, cooperating yarn guides moving in an opposite path, and fixed sinkers associated with the knitting needles. The distance between the downward leg of the path and the forward point of the sinkers is at least equal to the length of the needle latches. The distance between the upward leg of the path and the forward point of the sinkers is such that the forward edge of the trick plate is in the same plane or backwardly of the plane of the sinker points.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to Raschel warp knitting machines with sinkers.

Raschel machines of this type are known, wherein the knitting needles move upwardly and downwardly while being swung back and forth, thus moving through a closed path in one direction, while the yarn guides are swung in the opposite direction. In such machines, the sinkers have been moved by a cam drive for synchronous motion with the knitting needles and yarn guides so that the freshly knitted fabric may be effectively pressed down by the sinkers and there is no interference by the sinkers with the closing movement of the knitting needle latches while the knitting needles move downwardly through one leg of the closed path. This requires a drive for the sinkers, in addition to the motion imparting mechanisms for the knitting needles and yarn guides, and reduces the speed of the machine operation.

It is the primary object of the present invention to simplify the structure of a Raschel machine of the indicated type and to increase its speed without interference with the functioning of the knitting needles by the sinkers.

This and other objects are accomplished in accordance with this invention by fixedly mounting the sinkers associated with the knittng needles.

The motion imparting mechanism for the knitting needles is such that the freshly knit fabric is effectively pressed down by the sinkers without the fixed sinkers interfering with the closing of the knitting needle latches.

In the illustrated embodiment, this is efiectuated by keeping the distance between the upwardly extending leg of the path of the knitting needles and the forward point of the fixed sinkers large enough so that the forward edge is in the same plane or backwardly of the plane of the sinker points, while the distance between the downwardly extending leg of the path of the knitting needles and the forward point of the sinkers is at least equal to the length of the needle latches.

By mounting the sinkers fixedly, the sinker drive is eliminated, leaving only the motion imparting mechanisms 3,460,357 Patented Aug. 12, 1969 for the knitting needles and the yarn guides. Making a cam drive so that the knitting needles move in the abovedescribed path causes no difiiculty at all while the entire machine is considerably simplified by the elimination of the sinker drve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single figure of the drawing schematically illustrates the association of the sinkers with the knitting needles, and the paths of the knitting needles and yarn guides during operation of the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown only as much of an otherwise conventional Raschel warp knitting machine as is needed for an understanding of the invention. Useful mechanisms for mounting yarn guides and knitting needles for swinging motion are well known and fully described, for instance, in Warp Knitting Technology, by D. F. Paling, Columbine Press, Manchester 2, England, 2nd edition, 1965, pages 213-254. The combined swinging and up-and-down motion of the latch needles 4 along path 3 in the direction of arrow 5 and the movement of the yarn guides moving along path 1 in the direction of arrow 2 is effected by any useful swinging mechanism (not ShOWn), as is conventional.

As shown, the latch needles 4 are mounted on a nonillustrated common needle bar and guided in the trick plate 15 for movement in the direction of arrow 5, passing through an upper leg 6 of the path in a direction opposite to the movement of the associated yarn guides, as is also conventional. After the knitting needles have completed the upper leg of their operating path 3, they move downwardly along a curved path leg 7, at which time the latch 8 of the needles is closed.

Sinkers 10 are mounted on a fixed sinker bar and the mechanism imparting the motion along path 3 to the knitting needles is such that the distance 11 between the leg 7 of the path of the knitting needles and the fixed forward point 9 of the sinkers is at least equal to the length of the latch 8 of the needles.

From leg 7, the knitting needles move into the lower leg 12 of the path towards fixed sinkers 10 and finally move upwardly along leg 13 of their operating path 3. The mechanism which imparts the motion of the knitting needles along path 3 is such that the upwardly extending leg 13 so positions the forward edge 14 of the trick plate 15, which moves with the knitting needles, that this forward edge is in the same plane as that of the sinker points 9 or backwardly thereof, as indicated by the distance 16. After completing leg 13, the needles swing back along upper leg 6 of their path to repeat the operating cycle.

As will be appreciated from the above description, the latches 8 may be closed without interfering with the fixed sinkers while the latch needles pass through downwardly extending leg 7 because the distance 11 is so chosen that the latches do not touch the sinker points. Furthermore, the upward leg 13 is so designed that the sinkers 10 will effectively press down the fabric during the upward movement of the knitting needles while the fabric still hangs with a freshly formed loop on the needle shaft.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teaching. It is, therefore, to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than specifically described.

I claim:

1. In a Raschel warp knitting machine, in combination:

(a) knitting needles having respective latches and being each movable in a closed path consisting of an upper leg extending in one direction, a dowwardly extending leg, 2. lower leg, and an upwardly extending leg;

(b) yarn guides cooperating with said needles and arranged for movement in a path opposite to said one direction; and

(c) fixedly mounted sinkers respectively associated with said knitting needles,

(1) each sinker having a forward point,

(2) the distance between the downwardly extending leg of said closed path of each knitting needle and the forward point of the associated sinker being at least equal to the length of the latch of said needle.

2. The Raschel warp knitting machine of claim 1, further comprising a trick plate having a forward edge and mounted for movement with the knitting needles, the distance between the upwardly extending leg of the path of the knitting needles and the forward point of the sinkers being such that said forward edge is in the same plane or backwardly of the plane of the sinker points.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,428,030 9/1947 Lambach 6686 2,428,405 10/1947 Young 66--S6 2,476,344 7/1949 Young 6686 WM. CARTER REYNOLDS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 66109 

